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“Okay everyone!” started Charlie, the group had trickled back into the hotel after Alastor took care of the snake demon’s attack, “that was a umh.. great first day. Really, good job Alastor for…” the princess trailed off, taking in the absolute smug expression on the bastard’s face.
Inwardly, Husk groaned knowing that from experience Al was going to be insufferable.
“No need to thank me, my dear,” Al adjusted his bowtie, with closed eyes and a smug grin in place, “I was only fulfilling my job as Manager of this fine facility.”
“Uhuh, Right, “Charlie awkwardly laughed, “Well, we’ve all had a very exhausting day, why don’t we call it a night and get some sleep.”
Angel Dust sauntered past heading towards the stairs, “Fine by me, toots.” Throwing a wink and kiss over his shoulder he added, “Nighty Night~”
As if the kiss were a tangible thing, Alastor took a step back bodily avoiding it. Husk snickered into his paw; Al’s so ace it ain’t even funny. He made his way behind the bar, still slightly snickering under his breath, ignoring the look Alastor was sending his way.
As Husk ducked under the bar rummaging around, just seeing what was in stock, conversation continued.
“Goodnight, everyone, I will see you all tomorrow,” Alastor took a bow before dissolving into his shadows. As he disappeared his voice echoed sinisterly, “And don’t forget to smile~”
“ Huff, Dramatic bastard,” Husk muttered, taking a sip of the glass of whiskey straight he poured. Sure, he usually drank cheap booze, but sue him it’d been a stressful day let him have some whiskey.
Shortly after Al left Niffty did too but not before speeding towards Husk and giving him a hug and a few shy words, “I’m happy that you're here, Husk.”
Then the little cyclops sped off having spotted a bug out of the corner of her eye, never giving him a chance to reply. Only to watch her run off with an amused, (fond) look.
SLAM!
Husk jumped, letting out a hiss and wings flaring out behind him, startled by the loud noise.
Vaggie leaned in close, Charlie must have gone upstairs while he was talking with Niffty, her whole countenance grim and murderous as she stared him down, “Let’s get one thing straight here, you hurt even a hair on Charlie’s head, and I’ll run you through before a sound can leave your lips.”
Despite the threat and the angelic spear highlighting the white-haired girl’s words, Husk couldn’t help the slightly hysterical laugh he let out.
“Hahaha,” Husk shook his head, a wry grin on his face, “Five out of five, a full set huh?” He spared a look at Vaggie taking in the shocked look on her face.
“Don’t look so surprised, kid, you're hurtin’ my feelings ,” at the last word, Husk wiggled his eyebrows and his wings. Smirking when he got a laugh out of the kid, clearly despite herself.
Vaggie’s eye narrowed, “Don’t think that just because we’re soulmates I won’t go through with my threat if you hurt Charlie.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Husk tilted his head, smirk still in place, “Ya want a drink?”
Rolling her eye, she snorted, “Maybe some other time, I’m going to bed.”
She walked off and just as she made it to the stairs a faint sound reached Husk’s ears making them twitch, “Night, Husk.”
“Night, Kid.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Good morning!” The princess’s loud and enthusiastic greeting filled the room, as she made her way down the stairs followed by a groggy Vaggie.
Groaning Husk sat up, from he’d been sleeping on the bar top. (Don’t ask) “No offense kid, but it’s a little too early for all of…” He paused, before gesturing at Charlie, “you.”
The princess just smiled, taking Husk’s grumpiness in stride, “It’s never too early to have a head start on the path to redemption!”
“Bu-”
“You are absolutely right, Charlie!” The radio demon said materializing out of his shadows to behind the bar, right behind Husk. The winged cat jumped with a startled hiss, tumbling off the bar top and onto the ground.
From the floor Husk clutched at his heart, while glaring at Alastor, “What the fuck, Al, you tryin’ to give me a heart attack?”
“HahaHaha, maybe”
Husk glared up at the highly amused demon, still on the ground.
“Well, well what happened here,” Angel Dust’s voice rang out, “did the kitty not land on his feet.”
“Fuck off,” Husk stood heading back behind the bar, ignoring Alastor and the spider’s teasing grin. He grabbed a bottle of cheap booze and started to drink, slumping on the bar top head resting on his elbows.
By now the residents of Hazbin Hotel had started to congregate around the bar, either idly chatting or just now becoming fully awake. Nifty had waved at Husk, and he had nodded in acknowledgment in return. Now he was just nursing his first drink as he listened to the conversation around him.
“Husker, my dear, what plans do you have for the glorious hellish morning?”
“I don’t know Al,” Husk grumpily eyed the deer demon, “you're the one who dragged me into this hotel mess. Kinda messed up any plans I had for the day.”
“Oooh! Oooh!” The princess of Hell started jumping up and down and waving her hand as she did.
Vaggie sighed fondly at her hyperactive soulmate and girlfriend, “Yes, Charlie?”
An enthusiastic smile filled her face, “Why don’t we do some bonding activities?”
“Bonding activities, Charlie?”
“Yeah, Vaggie!” Charlie grabbed Vaggie’s hand before facing the others, “We’re all going to be working together now, so getting to know each other is a must! Bonding activities are a great way to do just that,” Charlie trailed off with a self-conscious expression, “of course if no one wants to…”
Husk sighed, already knowing that he really didn’t want the kid to be upset, even if he would rather not do bonding activities.
(He was going soft, wasn’t he?)
“We’ll do them.” (He was so going to regret this.)
“ Gasp !” Charlie smiled hopefully, “Really!”
“...Yeah.”
(No, he wasn’t)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charlie clapped her hands, addressing the group of sinners before her, “Okay everyone for our first super fun bonding session we’ll be playing two truths and a lie!”
The Hotel Habitants sat in a circle on the floor. (It’ll help make us closer, Charlie said.)
Charlie smiled looking at the group of demons, “Alright I’ll go first.” Humming she continued, “Let’s see I’m Bi, I hate pineapple on pizza, oh! And I’ve never seen a real human in person before!”
Niffty raised her hand bouncing around, “Let me guess, let me guess!”
“Okay, what’s your guess Niffty?” Charlie asked, laughing at the little demon’s antics.
“You must have seen a real human in person before!”
Charlie looked to the side shrugging with a smile, “I don’t know, I guess we’ll have to see.”
Angel Dust leaned back using his upper two arms and crossing the lower ones, “I’d have to say I agree with lil’ Niffty ova’ there.”
“Pineapple on pizza,” Husk threw out on a limb, the princess wasn’t a very good liar…. and he had heard her and Vaggie talking about dinner plans last night. Although he’s pretty sure they ended up not ordering anything.
“I’ll have to agree with ole Husker, my dears,” Al chimed in.
“Pineapple on pizza,” Vaggie said.
Charlie squealed, “Yep, the lie is that I hate pineapple pizza. I love pineapple on pizza, and I would very much like to shake the hand of the person who came up with it!”
“Oh, come on!” Angel Dust threw up two of his hands, “pineapple on pizza, ya would think that a princess would have betta’ taste.”
“Hmm, I agree with Charlie,” Al started fixing his bowtie, “pineapple on pizza is just marvelous, especially with my secret sauce.”
‘Made from the blood of his victims ’ thought Husk.
The group dissolved into petty squabbling over pineapple on pizza of all things. The rest of the game continued similarly.
Vaggie had gone next with prompting from her girlfriend. The following, “Bilingual, likes women, and hates 80s music.” The lie had been the 80s music.
Angel Dust said, “He’s an only child, his favorite color is pink, and his favorite food is lasagna.” The lie had been he was an only child. Frankly, he doesn’t seem like the only child type.
Al’s had been, “He likes to cook, his favorite drink is tea, and his favorite song is You’re Never Fully Dressed without a smile.” Having been serving under the Radio Demon for so long, Husk had picked up a few things and those were some of them. Obviously, the lie was that his favorite drink was tea.
The last time someone tried to serve Alastor tea, Husk had been washing blood out of his fur for the next month. Hell, Vox caught wind of that and would sometimes just send boxes of tea bags to fuck with Al.
The tea bags either got banished to the shadows, dumped in water, burned, or sent to Rosie. They usually ended up going to Rosie.
Niff had gone next, “Knows only one human language, can play the guitar, writes fanfiction.” Again, having been with and knowing Niffty for so long, the answer was not hard to guess. She knows way more than one human language.
All eyes turned to the grumpy cat of a bartender. Who only stared back unamused.
“It’s your turn Husk!” Niffty announced with a smile.
At the expectant stares, Husk sighed before continuing. “Alright, I can play the saxophone, I’m straight, and I know card tricks.”
Vaggie stared at Husk, arms crossed, “I call bullshit, on the saxophone. No offense but you don’t seem like the type of person who has the patience for any instrument.”
Husk shrugged.
“Hmm,” Charlie squinted at Husk, “well you obviously know card tricks,” Charlie paused at his raised brow, “Come on, you were talking about that when Alastor summoned you!”
With a considering nod, Husk just shrugged again.
Charlie continued, “So, I’ll have to agree with Vaggie on the saxophone.”
“I agree with the princess and her girlfriend,” Angel Dust threw in, “no way you're not straight.”
Honestly, Husk was a little offended that they thought he was straight, in their defense he had known them for less than a day, but still!
Nif and Al both chose to abstain, saying they knew the answer and didn’t want to spoil it. Well, Al did, Nif just chuckled menacingly unhinged.
“Alright, kitty cat, what is it, were we right?” Angel Dust asked, a smirk on his face.
Charlie bounced in place, waiting for his answer and Vaggie watched her fondly.
Husk tilted his head as if contemplating, “Hmmm, the lie is that I’m straight,” continuing, ignoring the shocked faces, “I’m actually pansexual or whatever the new term is for it.”
A shit-eating grin in place he added, “Any hole’s the goal, after all.”
Chaos took over the group once more and Husk couldn’t help but smile as he watched them.
(
Already fond of this group and willing to do whatever it would take to keep them happy and safe. Everyone else be damned.
)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eventually, the group split up and went their different ways. The princess and her girlfriend went somewhere, Nif was off hunting bugs, and Al was who knows where.
Husk had made it back to the bar, camping out and waiting for Angel Dust to show up. Finally, the spider showed up.
“Yo legs,” He called out, waving a hand, “over here, we need to talk.”
Angel Dust sauntered over, hands on his hips with a raised brow, “Watcha wanna talk about, kitty?”
“Cut the shit,” he deadpanned, “Look kid, we’re soulmates, don’t try to deny it I saw the look on your face. Look, all I wanna know is what you want to do about it.”
At the spider’s disbelieving look, he continued, “We’re going to be seein a lot more of each other because of this whole Hotel project.” Husk sighed, “...I just don’t wanna make you uncomfortable kid. So, tell me what you want.”
A flirty smile made its way on Angel Dust’s face, before falling. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before speaking. “I… I don’t know what I want,” He looked down, and for a split second he was vulnerable before the mask came right back up, “why don’t we stay friends for now, capiche~”
Husk rolled his eyes, “Capiche.”
The cat turned back towards the wall of alcohol, “Okay legs, want anything to drink?”
Angel took a seat at the bar, smirking, “Surprise me.”
Husk smirked right back, “A soulmate surprise, coming right up.”